It Hits the Fan

"It Hits the Fan"

"It Hits the Fan" is the 66th episode of the animated series South Park, or the first-broadcast episode of the fifth season (second in sequence, with "Scott Tenorman Must Die" being the first episode in sequence, which was delayed for several weeks). It was originally broadcast on June 20, 2001. It is best known for its uncensored use of the word "shit" 162 separate times - a counter in the corner of the screen counts the number of times the word has been uttered.

Premise

The episode questions whether there is an empty significance to taboo words and ridicules the relationship between television networks that use shock and the viewers that are predictably captivated. ABC’s NYPD Blue, a show known for controversial network television firsts, is specifically parodied within the episode when a show named Cop Drama on "HBC" first introduces uncensored "shit." The creators of the show argued that they were angry because "if a drama or a serious show breaks the boundaries, it’s ‘bold’ and ‘artistic,’ but if a comedy show [like theirs] tries it, it’s just stupid, or shitty, or bullshit."

A sub-plot in the episode revolves around Mr. Garrison’s ability to say the word "fag" (which is said 29 times, 3 of which are bleeped) due to his outing as a homosexual.

Executives at Comedy Central felt the profanity was justified by context and decided to allow the uncensored episode to be broadcast, which surprised even the show’s developers. Despite broadcasting a record setting amount of profanity, little controversy was stirred by the transmission. Co-creator Matt Stone explained the passive passage by citing changing cultural standards, "No one cares any more...The standards are almost gone. No one gives a shit or a bullshit." According to DVD commentary, they were only going to say it a few times, which Comedy Central would not allow. However, when Trey Parker and Stone came up with the idea that they would "say it like 200 times, they [the network] [was] fine with it."

This episode made #8 on the list of "10 South Parks That Changed the World."

Plot

Kyle has tickets to go to The Lion King, but Cartman tells him that the HBC crime show Cop Drama is going to use the word "shit." This broadcast leads to widespread acceptance of the word, even in schools, causing people to use it constantly, in casual and often illogical conversation. Furthermore, Ms Choksondik is forced to clarify the acceptable context of the word — as a noun or adjective meaning bad, or as an exclamation of disappointment, the word is acceptable, but as a noun or adjective referring to feces, it is apparently unacceptable — thoroughly confusing the children. Mr Garrison sings "shitty, shitty, fag, fag" to the tune of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" after he realizes that not only is he allowed to say "fag" on account of his being a homosexual, but he is also now allowed to say "shit." People start spewing up their intestines, so action is taken — the boys ask Chef to take them into the HBC Head Office to sort it out. Research proves that the word is actually a literal "curse(d) word," and its constant utterance has caused a resurgence of the bubonic plague. A special live event, "Must Shit TV," also called "The Night of a Million Shits," in which episodes of existing shows are taped live with almost every word of dialogue replaced with the word "shit," goes ahead anyway until the boys come back and tell everyone that curse words are actually cursed. However, by this point the word has been said enough times to awaken a demonic dragon called Geldon (with a voice just like Cartman’s; Cartman comments,"Man, what a stupid voice"). Kyle destroys the dragon with an ancient magical rune stone belonging to a knight in the mystical Order of Standards & Practices. The moral of the story is not that saying "shit" is wrong per se, but saying it in excess leads to boredom with the word. And at that point, Cartman tells everyone to watch their language, which Kyle and Stan agree on.

Kenny’s death

Kenny dies from the bubonic plague, then vomits out his intestines, which normally doesn't happen with the plague.

Censorship

• This is the second of four instances of "shit" not being censored from South Park, the first being in "Ike’s Wee Wee," in which Mr. Mackey said the word "bullshit" uncensored (this was bleeped in all subsequent showings after the premiere, though). In "Le Petit Tourette," some uncensored uses of the word were utterances of Tourette Syndrome. The finale of the "Imaginationland Episode III" in season 11 also includes an uncensored version of the word.
• According to commentary on season 9 episode "Follow That Egg," there was a big fight with Comedy Central to allow Mr. Garrison to say the word "fag," and that they tried to convince the network he should be allowed because he is making a point. The network said they could have "two or three uses," which actually turned into twenty-six. Though it was not allowed then, the word would be allowed in multiple episodes later.

Rating

The Parents Television Council featured this episode in a study on violence, sexual content, and profanity on cable television in November 2004. This is the only TV-MA rated episode on the syndicated airings, due to too many uses of "shit" for a TV-14 rating.

Reference

2. Rutenberg, Jim (June 25, 2001). " ‘South Park’ Takes Gross to New Frontier." The New York Times, Section C; Column 5; Business/Financial Desk; Pg. 9